Offset ski tip



R. B. LANGE OFFSET SKI TIP March 11', 1970 Filed Nov. 5, 1967 INVENTOR RUBERT B LA/VGE BYW%M ATT IVEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 28011.13 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pair of skis wherein each ski has its forward, upturned tip offset inwardly from the longitudinal axis of the ski.

This invention relates to a pair of skis and more particularly relates to a pair of non-symmetrical skis especially adapted for slalom racing.

Ina slalom race, the skier is pitted against the clock to make his way downhill over a zigzag or wavy course between upright obstacles, usually flag poles. The speeds attained are extremely high and the execution of each of the multiple turning movements requires split second timing and judgement. Because of the rapidity of successive turns in opposite directions, the skier has scant room for error and the slightest miscalculation on his part in making a turn too quickly can result in his inside ski catching the pole with a resulting loss of the race or even injury. It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a slalom skier with skis which will permit the earlier execution of a turn without disastrous results.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel skis which will allow the skier to initiate execution of a successful turn around an obstacle at a point in time later than that of a skier equipped with conventional skis.

A further object of the invention is to provide nonsymmetrical skis which have their forward upturned tips located inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the respective skis.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a pair of skis, each ski of which has a tip located in a vertical plane tangent to the innermost portions of its inner edge.

Another important object of the invention is to provide removable shovel extensions for adapting a conventional pair of skis to slalom racing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide removable shovel extensions for conventional skis having an inwardly displaced ti-p.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the skis;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the skis; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view, partly in section comparing a conventional ski with a ski of this invention during a turning movement.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a shovel extension for a conventional ski;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of a shovel extension for a conventional ski;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a shovel extension for the offset ski of this invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the shovel extension of FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 10 indicates a pair of skis comprised of a ski 12 for the skiers left foot and a ski 14 for the skiers right foot. Although the skis 12 and 14 are not identical, they are the mirror images of each other with each having a structure corresponding to the other.

3,501,160 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 In order to avoid repetition, only one of the skis will be discussed.

The ski 12 is defined by an upper surface 16, an under surface 18, an inside edge 20, and an outside edge 22. The inside edge 20 is generally perpendicular to the surfaces 16 and 18 as well as the ground being traversed. The general configuration of the ski includes a relatively narrow waist 24, a relatively wide tail 25 at the rearward end of the ski, and a shovel 26 at the forward end of the ski. The shovel is upturned and terminates in a tip 27. Located on the waist portion 24 of the ski in a boot attachment means 28.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the tip is offset inwardly from the longitudinal axis of the ski and in fact, lies within a vertical plane which is tangent to the inside edge 20 at the tail 25 and shovel 26.

In FIGURE 3, a conventional ski 32 is shown in solid lines in comparison to the novel ski 12, with both the skis being in the same position relative to a pole 30 which is to be avoided by a skier who wishes to go to the right of it. By reason of the tip 24 being offset inwardly, the ski 12 has the distinct advantage of having its leading point already displaced toward that side of the pole around which the skier is to pass. In the reverse situation where the skier is to execute a turning movement in the opposite direction to pass around the other side of the pole, it will be the location of the tip of the ski 14 which will be crucial and it is obvious to see that by its mirror image structure, the advantage will be retained.

In order to employ the advantageous principles of the offset ski to a conventional ski, a portable shovel extension 40 is shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. The extension is slidably received over the forward end of the conventional ski by pocket 41 and is secured in place as by telescoping screws 42. Each pocket 41 is formed to snugly receive its ski and is formed in close tolerance thereto. This provides for a solid portion 43 for absorbing the normal shock of skiing. The clamping screws are of the telescoping type with flat domed heads 46 and 47 to reduce friction.

In some instances it is desirable to convert the slalom skis of FIGURE 1 to a conventional shape. For such purposes, a shovel extension 44 is provided having a pocket 45 to receive the tip of the ski.

The shovel extension and its screws are affixed to the main shovel of the ski in the rise portion thereof (above the plane of the ski bottom) to insure that the smooth bottom surface of the ski is not interrupted.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed an elfective and efficient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiment, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. A pair of elongated skies, the ski for the left foot being -a mirror image of the ski for the right foot; each ski comprising a main body portion, an upturned tip at the forward end of said body portion, a generally straight inside edge terminating at said tip, an outside edge terminating at said tip, and said tip being displaced inwardly from the longitudinal center axis of said ski to the vertical plane of said inside edge.

2. The pair of skis defined by claim 1 wherein each ski is equipped with a boot securing apparatus intermediate its length.

3. Shovel extensions for a pair of skis each having a generally straight inside edge and a shovel having a tip located on the longitudinal center axis of the ski, each extension comprising a hollow body adapted for snug 3 receipt on said shovel, said body having a tip displaced inwardly from the longitudinal center axis of said ski t0 the vertical plane of said inside edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,595,632 8/1926 Taft 28011.13 3,121,892 2/1964 Plumlee 9-310 4 FOREIGN PATENTS 198,169 6/1958 Austria.

39,329 7/ 1924 Norway. 265,869 3/1950 Switzerland.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner 

